lobsterback

1 9.9

A name for British soldiers with bright red coats used as an insult during the war in America

noun
/ˈlɑːbstərˌbæk/

Slur

: casaca roja (despectivo)

The colonists often shouted insults at the lobsterbacks as they marched through their towns.

Examples

We lost the lobsterbacks, then, and denned up at the cottage where I first saw you, waiting for darkness to slip out. "I see," I said.

Fiction book (1991)
During the American Revolution, many patriots viewed the lobsterbacks as their oppressors.
Some colonists would hide during battles to avoid confronting the lobsterbacks in the streets.

Synonyms

redcoat

vslobsterback

Archaic

13 8.7

A British soldier who wears a red coat, especially during the American Revolution

is used informally to insult or show dislike toward that soldier

Surface Forms

lobsterback singular

lobsterbacks plural

lobster-backs plural

lobster-back singular

Morphology

lobsterback = lobster + back (semi-transparent) = lobster + back

A metaphorical compound referring to red-coated soldiers (like a 'lobster' on the 'back'); components are clear but the historical/derogatory referent is figurative and may not be obvious to learners.

Etymology

The word lobsterback is an old American insult for British soldiers. It comes from comparing their bright 'red' coats to a lobster's shell, so calling someone a lobsterback meant a British soldier and was a way to make fun of their uniform.